Published 02/10/2023, 9:10 AM EST
Roger Federer is regarded as the most composed player on the tour. And it’s not for nothing. His calmness has unsteadied many seasoned tennis players who stood opposite to him in court. However, what many people do not know is that Federer had severe anger issues as a teenager. He would be extremely emotional and would easily be overwhelmed with his match results. Talking about his time as a young tennis player, David Law elaborates on his experience with young Federer.
It seems that David Law is speaking about a different side of Roger Federer, one that many people may not have seen before. According to Law, Federer was an exuberant and energetic young man, who liked loud music and would sing and shout at the top of his lungs. He also enjoyed doing impersonations in the locker room and had a lot of energy.
David Law recounts Roger Federer’s hyperactivity
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In the podcast called The Tennis Podcast, Law reboots on our opinions of Roger Federer as the man we know today. Federer turned professional in 1998 and quickly established himself as a top player. He won his first Grand Slam in 2003 but when Law looks back at his adolescence, he finds a Federer starkly different than the Swiss Maestro we know today.
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However, it wasn’t just Roger’s personality on court, but also in the locker room that showed signs of being overwhelmed. As Law recounts during the podcast, “It was growing pains. He was a teenager, he was silly, he was into music, he was into stupid computer games.”
Roger Federer in a rare moment of losing his calm
To release his excessively high energy, Federer took a path that might seem weird to others. In David’s words, “In the locker room and the showers he’d be screaming at the top of his voice doing impersonations of other players. Or characters that he might have seen in the World Wrestling Federation.”
Law admits, “I don’t think I’d ever seen anybody on the circuit with this much energy.”
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It’s common for athletes, especially young ones, to experience these types of challenges and setbacks in their careers. Federer was no different.
Federer was a crybaby?
Recounting his reactions after matches, Law says, Federer sometimes struggled with his mental and emotional composure during his early career. Federer would sometimes have substandard performances where he would mentally break down and get emotional, leading him to throw his racquets. The British tennis broadcaster adds, “He was a baby. Honestly, he was a crybaby on the court.”
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This quote is just a perspective of the young Federer. It does reflect the entire picture of his long career. He has become one of the GOATs of tennis with the help of his many coaches and the love of his fans. Today his impressive achievements on the court speak to his talent, determination, and resilience.
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